Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-07-13
Mount Popocatepetl.

Mount POp0catcpet1.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
CITY OF MEXICO, July G.-Leaving the
timber line, we moved on in q zig gag way
through the deep volcanic sand, which pre-
sented scene OF dreary desolation. This
thought was we'll expressed ny my Indian
guide when he said "Only God and the
mountain exist heren Our progress was
very slow and tiresome. The labored
breathing of the horses was painful TO see.
Though they were rested every few yards.
yet their knees trembled as though they
would drop in their tracks. After about
three hours of this slow and painful pro-
gress we dismonnted by lone cross which
marks the death of n man who lost his lie
in the fiery depth of the crater. Thus far
we had saved our strength for the final
climb on foot, which now began, as the
horses could go no further. There we're
three Americans in our party, two Mexlcans
and two pure Aztec Indians. Every body
mad their feet wrapped in large bundle of
bullrush mats and coarse cloth. These were
so large that each one had 10 walk with his
feet inr apart to keep them from striking.
: nb Wrapping VA CuA LSS' iiitNO -
about foot il diameter. | haG heard Of
yawning chasms filed with soft sncw in
which one might slip in and go out of sight
for ever; but now we felt cousoed as we
knew it would have to be very soft snow
that would let our feet through; besides we
lei: the Indians 20 ahead and take OFF the
wirey edge. This, you know, showed we
had confidence in them, and so we had con-
fident if they went down and out of sight in
some Deep dark chasm we wouldn't fol-
low. They carried the extra wrap
pings. provisions, SC. and every one
had a volcanic staff. Thus we waddled
on to the line Of everlasting snow.
All waded in and we were soon on the crest
OF the first and we'll up the main avalanche.
just here Viejo, as the second guide was
called, looked back with sad look which
seemed TO indicate that he would have TO
lead the way TO the top, 40 none manifested
any signs of giving out. He told how bad
;hs rest of the trip was and in his opinion,
ii would be the proper thing to return. This
little game they work on many very sue
cassfully but with our party Ii wouldn't
work worth cent so we all moved on.
Just at this time the sun rose over the
snowy peak and we tarried to view the
scene and. indeed, sublime scene ii was.
The atmosphere was SO rare and clear that
we could view the landscape for moro than
hundred miles away We saw as it were
the earth from the orange and palm groves
OF the torrid zone to the everlasting SHOWS
and glaciers of Iceland. Intervening we
saw the green fields and flower gardens OF
the semi-tropicsl valley and the heavy foliage
of the great trees that hung out upon the
hills of the temperate zone Five thousand
feet below the sunlight danced among the
frosty pines producing silver sheen that
made il appear like an enchanted land. In
the distance we looked down upon hills
crowned with tall church towers, the beauty
Of which was perfected by The varied hues
marking the products of hills, valleys and
wooded mountain heights. Near by we
looked down in the valley where Cortez and
mis- conquering band passed more than three
and half centuries ago. The same scenes
that greeted them then we enjoyed now ;
for the county now, as then, is wilderness.
But farto the south we looked upon lone tow
ers and deserted cities which were then re-
nowned for their wealth aud population.
Thus it is
30, Time kings yield beneath your power;
Nations fall beneath your sway
Empires fall to rise no more,